Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ENG 3500 |
Classical & Modern Rhetoric
This course provides an overview and study of the art of classical rhetoric, beginning with the ancient Greeks and culminating in twenty-first century understandings and applications. | 3 |
| HIST 4400 |
History of Education in the Western Tradition
This course surveys the history of education in the West, beginning with classical Greece and Rome and proceeding through various periods of history to 20th-century American education. Students will read selections from landmark figures in the history of education, such as Aristotle, Cicero, Quintilian, Vergerius, Luther, Melanchthon, Rousseau, and Dewey, and will examine the objectives, ideals, theories and historical contexts of education over time and place. This study will provide the context for an evaluation of education in the contemporary Western world. | 3 |
| LA 3000 |
Teaching Methods of Classical Education
In LA 3000, students will explore the history, theory, and practice of Classical education and will develop practical knowledge of Classical pedagogy. Students first will examine, from a comparative perspective, various models and specific approaches to Classical Education currently in practice in the United States. Next, students will consider historical perspectives of Classical education through focused readings related to the Liberal Arts. Students will then have the opportunity to identify Classical pedagogical methods utilized in various subject areas and will develop initial teaching plans for specific topics within selected disciplinary areas. As part of the culminating project of the course, students will complete a practical field experience and complete a culminating project that combines theory and practice. | 3 |
| LA 4800 |
Practicum
The Practicum constitutes the culminating course for the Classical Education program and should be taken in conjunction with LA 4900 Student Teaching Experience in Classical Education. Each student will identify a topic related to Classical Education, explore its history by means of primary texts and secondary materials, and connect these historical ideas and perspectives with actual practice as observed or conducted by the student in the context of his/her student teaching experience. Students will work directly with a faculty advisor to identify and shape the topic, to compose an extensive paper, and present that paper publicly.
| 1-3 |
| LA 4900 |
Classical Education Student Teaching
LA 4900 constitutes one of the culminating courses for the Classical Education program and should be taken in conjunction with LA 4800 Practicum. Students will complete student teaching experiences in various schools that have adopted a Classical paradigm for their curricula and principles of pedagogy. Students thus will acquire practical experience in a Classical education setting and will develop facility with teaching methods distinct to Classical education. Students will build upon the theoretical knowledge of Classical education gained through academic coursework and will apply that to their practical experiences in Classical schools. | 6 |
| LEGL 3250 |
Legal Landscape of American Schools
This course analyzes individual rights and responsibilities under the laws of the United States of America as they relate to education and educational institutions. The course will devote significant time to First Amendment issues and in particular to religious liberty and the operation of faith-based institutions. The course will engage students in a systematic legal analysis of key Supreme Court decisions regarding various Constitutional rights and responsibilities. | 3 |
| PSY 3050 |
Psychology of Teaching and Learning
This course fosters critical understanding of modern teaching and learning theories in the context of classical education. This course builds on the historical theories of learning, from philosophers to psychologists, and examines their strengths and weaknesses in the light of classical education authors and Church Fathers. | 3 |
| Total Hours | 22-24 | |